Dům U Klárů Palace

Tomášek's palace, also known as the House of Klár, is a Baroque architectural monument located on the Malá Strana in Prague. This palace is remarkable in its history and architecture, which reflects changes from the Renaissance to the Baroque. During the 15th and 16th centuries the house was remodeled and underwent a major reconstruction in 1723-1725, which gave it its present Baroque character. Today the palace is part of the building complex of the Chamber of Deputies of the Parliament of the Czech Republic and is one of the national cultural monuments.

Originally, Tomášek's palace was a Renaissance house with Gothic basement spaces. Several modifications took place during the 15th and 16th centuries, but a major reconstruction took place in 1723-1725. This reconstruction turned the house into a three-storey building with an irregular floor plan and a challenging baroque facade, which is probably from before 1770. The facade is seven axes and has a structure defined by the older three-arcade and medium three-axis risalite, which gives the building its distinctive architectural identity.

The palace's ownership has changed over the years. In the 15th and 16th centuries, the house was owned by various owners who re-edited it. In the first half of the 19th century it was purchased by Paul Alois Klar, which built the Klar Institute for the Blind. This important man was the son of Alois Klar, founder of a known institute for the blind. Paul Alois Klar had a famous composer Jan Václav Tomášek, after whom the palace was named.

Jan Václav Tomášek lived in the house until his death. He held intimate concerts here, attended by important artists and other important personalities such as František Palacký or Václav Hanka. Fresh newlyweds Tomášek and his wife Vilemína Ebertová, former pupil and excellent singer, also moved into this house. There are marble boards with bilingual inscription of Jan Václav Tomášek's residence, created by Ott Sandtner, on the pillars of the arch.

Another well-known tenant of the Palace was a graphic designer and author of the Veduces of Prague Vincenc Morstadt. Over the years, the palace has become a place of cultural meeting and inspiration for artists and scientists. Today, as part of the national cultural monument, the seat of Parliament of the Czech Republic serves new purposes.

Tomášek's palace is now open to the public and is worth visiting not only for its history but also for architectural details. His Baroque facade and internal spatial solutions are an example of the changes that Czech architecture has undergone from Renaissance to Baroque. Visiting this palace means traveling through time and discovering key moments of Czech culture and history.

Tomášek's palace is not only a monument to architecture, but also a witness to the life of many important personalities. His door is open to anyone who wants to understand the rich history of Prague and its cultural heritage. Visit this palace and you will appreciate its importance not only as an architectural monument, but also as a place where the lives of many prominent personalities of Czech history intertwined.